The EU plans to restrict exports of some waste containing critical raw materials as it seeks to shore up supplies after China curbed exports of some metals.
Brussels said it would next year propose restricting exports of permanent magnets so they can be recycled to cover a fifth of demand, as part of a plan to cut dependencies unveiled on Wednesday. The magnets are vital for products from electric vehicles to wind turbines and fighter jets.
The rollout of clean technologies has underlined the bloc’s need to rapidly diversify its critical minerals supply. China controls more than 90 per cent of processing capacity for several materials critical to the green transition including graphite and manganese. Its export controls introduced in April prompted European carmakers to shut down production lines and lay off thousands of workers.